Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Letter of Apostle John – Revelation
An Intimate Review
Pt 6
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The Church of Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church

In [Rev 3:15, 16; T.C. 5th Imp. Ed. Of 1988 #4404] Christ addresses the Church of Laodicia, which was established in what was considered, if not the, then one of the major financial money-making transaction centers of the world. The primary focus in the culture of this city was building and preserving wealth, much like the city of Tyre. It is not impossible to conclude that some Christians living here, would become sidetracked by excessive focus on obtaining financial gains and lose proper focus on the elements of Yahweh, divine worship and genuine Christian ministry. Many Christians fall prey to this mindset today. As a result, they can become less effective in ministry. Per King Solomon, money is good and is a defense, especially in the possession of spiritually wise and just people. [Eccl 7:11, 12] However, like all other things it becomes an offense in Yahweh’s perspective when it becomes an object of idolatry. [Mt 6:24; Lk 12:15; II; Tim 6:1-18; Eccl 7:12; Jam 1:8, 9] Although the Church of Laodicea performed noble works, their temperament of worship towards THE LORD and Christian ministry, became LUKEWARM in Christ’s perspective. Thus, He gave them the ultimatum to better adjust their temperament to His preferred taste, as representatives of His movement or be dismissed from their office as divine ambassadors. As He mentioned in Apostle Matthew’s Gospel, Christians are the salt of the earth. But if they lose their savor or potency, they are unable to be what they must be to accomplish Yahweh’s will. [Mt 5:13] If Christians who are of the LUKEWARM temperament re-adjust i.e., re-focus their devotion to Yahweh, divine worship and genuine Christian ministry, they will inherit the opportunity of SITTING down with Christ in His THRONE, as He SAT down in His FATHER’S THRONE after OVERCOMING EVIL at Calvary. [Heb 12:2]

*sit Gk #2523 kathizo (kath-id-zo) it means to set or seat down and figurative of being appointed to something

*throne Gk #2362 thronos (thron-os) it is a stately seat, concretely a potentate and by implication is power
Apostle John Sees Yahweh’s Throne

In [Rev 4:1-3] Apostle John’s personal experience exemplified how some revelation is not possible without intervention from Holy Ghost. [Jn 16:13; I Cor 2:12-16] No matter how skilled one might be with present day applications of hermeneutics, there are spiritual truths that can only be disclosed by the Holy Ghost. Gimel writes in the Psalms.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
[Ps 119:18]

Yahweh said,

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
[Jer 33:3]

Apostle Luke reports that even after being knowledgeable of the ancient scriptures, Christ had to open their understanding so they could understand them as they never had before. Per the Gospel of Luke,

These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.
Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
[Lk 24:44, 45]

Per Christ’s dialogue with Apostle Peter, Apostle Matthew writes,

But whom say ye that I am?
And Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father, which is in heaven.
[Mt 16:15-17]

As it was with the earliest disciples of Christ, so it is with all the necessity of divine intervention concerning the Person of Jesus Christ. As noted in this passage, Apostle John is in the spirit while receiving the entire REVELATION, and exiled on the Isle of Patmos. During his exile, he is invited by THE DIVINE GODHEAD to a higher spiritual dimension or level of consciousness, to receive intel about what was going to happen on earth. While many of the events disclosed to Apostle John happened within 300 years after the Lord’s resurrection as it relates to the nation of Israel, the REVELATION mirrors events that will occur just before Christ’s Second Advent. [Rev 4:4-11] The passage also describes glorious creatures and activities being performed before and unto THE LORD.

The Book with Seven Seals

In [Rev 5] Apostle John notes a Book that is sealed with seven seals, which no one but Jesus Christ is worthy to look upon and handle. However, not even He was worthy of it until He completed His mission at Calvary. Along with the honor of being able to look upon and handle this Book, Christ received power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. The passage also indicates distinction between Yahweh and Jesus Christ. It verifies that only the Blood of Jesus Christ can redeem those who are predestined to be kings and priests of THE LORD. [Rm 8:28-34] It also notes that these are the spirits of people from every kindred, tongue and nation on earth. This proves that there is and has never been any respect of persons with Yahweh. [Rm 2:11; I Jn 2:2]

The Removal of the Seals from the Book

In [Rev 6:1-12] Apostle John writes of the LAMB that removes the seven SEALS from the BOOK. He describes what happens as each SEAL is removed from the BOOK in sequential order.

1. FIRST SEAL is removed and a WHITE HORSE is released onto the earth, carrying a rider who was given a BOW and CROWN. The rider’s purpose is to go forth CONQUERING and to CONQUER. [Rev 1:1, 2]

*bow Gk #5115 toxon (tox-on) it is a bow (apparently as the simplest fabric)

*crown Gk #4735 stephanos (stef-an-nos) it is a chaplet as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games, or a symbol of honor

*conquering/conquer Gk #3528 nikao (nik-ah-o) it means to…
1. render submissive, conquer and bring into subjection
2. overcome or overpower by superior force
3. bring under mental or emotional control by persuasion and intimidation

2. SECOND SEAL is removed and a RED HORSE is released onto the earth, carrying one who is given a great SWORD and authority to take PEACE from the earth to the point of people KILLING one another horrifically. [Rev 6:3, 4]

*peace Gk #1515 eirene (i-ray-nay) it means peace and prosperity

*kill (1) Gk #4969 sphazo (sfad-zo) it means to butcher, slaughter and violently maim

*sword (1) Gk #3162 machaira (makh-ahee-rah) it is a knife, dirk, war and judicial punishment

3. THIRD SEAL is removed and a BLACK HORSE is released onto the earth, carrying a rider who is given a BALANCE to measure the value of WHEAT and BARLEY, to control how scarce food would be on earth, without harming the OIL and WINE thereof. [Rev 6:5, 6]

*balance (Eng) is an instrument for determining weight, typically by the equilibrium of a bar with a fulcrum at the center, from each end which is a suspended scale or pan, one holding an object of known weight, and the other holding the object to be weighed

*oil Gk #1637 elaion (el-ah-yon) it is olive oil

*wine Gk #3631 oinos (oy-nos) it is wine


4. FOURTH SEAL is removed and a PALE HORSE is released onto the earth, carrying one who is accompanied by DEATH and HELL. This team of three are given authority over the fourth part of the earth, to KILL with the SWORD, HUNGER, DEATH, and WILD BEASTS of the earth. [Rev 6:7, 8]

*death Gk #2288 thanatos (than-at-os) it is literally death

*hell Gk #86 hades (hah-dace) it means unseen and the place or state of departed souls

*kill (2) Gk #615 apokteino (ap-ok-ti-no) it means to kill outright and destroy

*sword (2) Gk #4501 rhomphaia (hrom-fah-yah) it is a sabre, which is a long, broad, one-edged sword, usually slightly curved and used especially by cavalry and is also a soldier who is armed with such a sword

*hunger Gk #3042 limos (lee-mos) it is a scarcity of food

*beasts Gk #2342 therion (thay-ree-on) it is a dangerous and venomous animal or wild beast

*earth Gk #1093 ge (ghay) it is soil, region or solid part or whole of the terrene globe including its inhabitants

5. FIFTH SEAL is removed and the spirits of just people who martyrs for THE LORD petition HIM to take revenge on those who murdered them. They also ask for brethren who were yet on earth to be delivered. These spirits are given white robes, as well as others who are predestined to become martyrs for THE LORD. Such are likened to RED BULLS as noted by Enoch, and members of the Church of Smyrna as noted by Apostle John. [Eno 85-90; Rev 2:8-11] Their motion before THE LORD also gives credence to the idea that select souls of the departed are aware of what is going on in the earth, and do intercede especially for those who will be killed in service to GOD. [Rev 6:9-11]


6. SIXTH SEAL is removed which invokes catastrophic events on earth and the Second Advent of Christ. At this event, Christ is not the Lamb to be slain, but the Lion who is feared by all who dwell on the earth at that time. They fear Him because the time has come for them to receive final recompense for their deeds. At this time, there are no righteous people on earth as they have all been killed. The stage is being set for the Final Day of Judgement but first there are other events that must take place. [Rev 6:12-17]

The Positioning of the Holy Angels

In [Rev 7:18] are four angels standing on the four corners of earth. They are holding the four winds of earth from blowing on land, sea and forestry. These angels are instructed by another angel having the SEAL of Yahweh to not to hurt the terrestrial elements until the 144,000 HEBREW SERVANTS OF YAHWEH are SEALED in their foreheads.

*seal Gk #4973 sphragis (sfag-ece) it is a…
1. signet as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation
2. an implied stamp impressed as a mark of privacy and genuineness

Apostle John also notes in this passage an innumerous multitude of white robed saints, who derived from all nations, kindreds, and tongues. This would suggest that they all were martyrs who lived on earth during the Great Tribulation. These are they who washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. As a result, they inherited a special place before Yahweh’s throne with perpetual gratuities. However, the 144,000 VIRGIN HEBREWS MEN appear to be the only righteous mortals left on earth, who were not to be affected by the catastrophes that were to happen.

The Seventh Seal of the Book Is Opened

In [Rev 8] Apostle John notes that at the opening of the SEVENTH SEAL, seven more natural catastrophes happen. Four of which happen at the trumpet blow of other angels positioned at Yahweh’s Throne.



Trumpet of the Fifth and Sixth Angels Are Blown

In [Rev 9:9-12] the FIFTH ANGEL blows a trumpet and a STAR falls from heaven to earth. It is not a meteor but another angel by the name of ABADDON or APOLLYON. He is the chief angel of destruction. [Isa 57:16; Pro 16:4; Rev 4:11] He is given the key that opens a bottomless pit. When he opens the pit, subterranean locusts having scorpion like tails emerge. The sting of their tail hurt mortals for five months. Their emergence on this earth is just one of three great woes brought upon those who dwell on earth at the time. In [Rev 9:13-21] The SIXTH ANGEL blows his trumpet and releases other angels of destruction. These angels are given authority to KILL 1/3 of the human populace with fire, brimstone, and smoke. The beasts upon which they ride have serpents for tails, which were also used to kill people who live on the earth at that time. All mortals except for the 144,000 VIRGIN HEBREW MEN are being affected by these plagues. [Rev 9:4; 14:1-5] It is clear that the mortals who are alive on earth are all votaries of Lucifer, who are perishing in their final demise by various means of mortal death. As they have all long been given over to a reprobate mind, they have no ability to repent of their allegiance to Lucifer, and cannot submit to Yahweh through Christ. [Isa 55:6; Dan 12:10; I Cor 1:18; Rm 1:18-26a; II Thes 2:3, 10-12] Prophet Isaiah writes,

Seek ye THE LORD while HE may be found, call ye upon HIM while HE is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto THE LORD, and HE will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for HE will abundantly pardon.
[Isa 55:6, 7]

THE LORD said through Prophet Ezekiel,

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all MY statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith THE LORD GOD: and not that he should return from his ways and live?
[Eze 18:21-23]

*********************<Time 13m38s>*********************